Exclusive: Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai slams Pakistan extremism, calls for India’s support

Karzai called upon India to “not move from one court to another” and follow a steady policy of a constant alliance with Afghanistan.

&nbspPhoto Credit:&nbspIndiatimes

New Delhi: Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, in an exclusive tête-à-tête with Times Now, slammed Pakistan for its unabated terror activities in the country, urging India to take a leading role in the region.

During the course of the interview, Karzai affirmed that Pakistan has direct links with terrorist organisations, apart from questioning the US over its failure to maintain peace in the country for the past 16 years. He also alleged US and Pakistan of being allies in the war on extremism in the region.

“So if the US knew all along what was going on, the shift in US policy (on Afghanistan) is not to fight extremism but to bring pressure on Pakistan for other reasons. “We have no ill will towards Pakistan, we want them to do well and consider them a neighbour,” he added.

Karzai elucidated that Pakistan has not reciprocated the same feeling despite several attempts to bridge gaps. He then called for India’s help to restore peace in the region.

Want India to play bigger role

“We want India to help Afghanistan’s military backup, we want India to train our people…want India to gives us equipment. “That’s where I suspect not is the case,” he added.

He said that Afghanistan had approached India earlier during the UPA regime with a proposal, but India failed to act then due to two reasons: Pakistan-based extremism and “the US was against it”.

Karzai stressed on the fact that the US’ policy towards the country has failed to upheld peace in the region and accusing it further of moving goalposts rather than helping curb the rampant terrorism in the region.

He said, “If the United States is genuine in this objective of ours – the terror strike – the US is welcome to us.”

He called upon India to “not move from one court to another” and follow a steady policy of a constant alliance with Afghanistan, and have its own…by all absolute means its own push to restore peace in Afghanistan.”

Urging India to forge an “independent relationship” with Afghanistan, the former head of the country said peace can only be achieved in the region if India offers complete support to end Pakistan-based extremism in the region.

Apart from fighting the menace of terrorism, Karzai also explained that India has a big role to play in the infrastructural development of regions in Afghanistan.

Exclusive: Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai slams Pakistan extremism, calls for India’s support Description:Karzai called upon India to “not move from one court to another” and follow a steady policy of a constant alliance with Afghanistan. Times Now